The pandemic killed the world of hiking, one of the world’s most beloved outdoor activities. In the years that followed, hiking came back even stronger than ever before. Despite its being around for hundreds of years, hiking still has been ever-evolving. How has hiking survived all this time? What do we enjoy about the wilderness? How are changing landscapes affecting our hiking? What challenges do we face hiking in unfamiliar territory, and what impact does our hiking have on the generations after us?

Hiker Christine Gabriel joins Fair Observer’s Editor-at-Large Ranjani Mohanty to take a deep dive into these thought-provoking matters. The conversation offers a guide to hiking on trails in areas all across the world (such as Canada, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand and Turkey), the trails near one’s own home, hiking after COVID, how to start hiking, why hiking is so beloved and more!

As they discuss their journeys, they reminisce and discover the joys and impact that hiking makes on so many lives. Want to be involved in the conversation? Subscribe, share and discuss and become a part of the Fair Observer community!

Digital nationalism has been one of China’s most defining focuses in the last decade, influencing much of the globe. And yet, world discussions about China often ignore much of what’s going on behind the curtains. What is digital nationalism, and what can it tell us about modern day China and its future?

Author and Modern China Studies professor of Leiden University Florian Schneider joins Eminent Geopolitical Analyst Haruko Satoh to explore these subjects. The conversation examines the role online spaces play in the shaping of national identity, recent visa policy and more.

As they discover China’s evolving role in the world and how digital nationalism plays into its evolution as a global powerhouse, a question arises: if China is neither the country its critics nor its supporters describe, what does the real China look like?

Narco-terrorism sits at the intersection of organised crime and political violence — but its implications extend far beyond either domain.

In this FO Podcasts episode Fair Observer’s Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief Atul Singh speaks to former counterterrorism operative Jeffrey James Higgins examines how illicit drug networks have evolved into sophisticated actors capable of funding insurgencies, destabilising states and undermining institutions. From the Taliban’s historic reliance on opium to the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, the relationship between narcotics and conflict has become increasingly entrenched.

The discussion explores how cartels in Latin America are acquiring paramilitary capabilities, how transnational gangs like MS-13 operate across borders and how drug economies erode state authority over time. It also considers the broader policy debate: should narcotics be treated primarily as a public health issue or as a national security threat?

As criminal networks grow in scale and influence, the boundary between crime and warfare is becoming harder to define.